Lock-nut.



1. M. VANDERBURG."

Patented Mar. 28, 1916.

JOHN M. VANDERBURG, OF DOWAGIAC. MIGI-IIGAN, ASSIGNOR F ONE-HALF T0 ESTATE OF I. D. BECKWITH, INQ, OF DOWAGIAC, MICHIGAN.

LOCK-NUT.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN M, VAN ER- BURG, a citizen of the United States, residing atDowagiac, county of Cass and'State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lock-Nuts, of which the following is a specification.

vThis invention relates to improvements in lock nuts. 7

The object of this invention is to provide an improved lock nut which can be quickly and easily applied and released and which can be readily manufactured at a low cost.

Further objects, and objects relating to details and economies of construction and operation will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and means described in the following specification.

The invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims. V

A structure constituting a preferred embodimentof my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, in which:

Figure I is an end elevation of a bolt,

' equipped with a structure embodying my invention. "Fig. II is a side elevation of bolt equipped with a structure embodying my invention, the lock, nut, washer and threaded portion of bolt being shown in section on line 2-2 of Fig. I. Fig. III is adetail side elevation of bolt with washer and lock nut. Fig. IV is a detail sectional view on line 44 of Fig. II, showing the lock washer. V is a detail sectional view on line 55 of Fig. IV, showing one of the seriesof recesses in the lock washer. Fig. VI is an end elevation of a modification of Figs. I and II, showing the invention applied to a square nut. Fig. VII is a sectional view of the modification of Figs. I and II taken on line 77 of Fig. VI. Fig. VIII is a view of the'device when in actual use on a rail joint. Fig. IX is a side elevation of'a lifter which may be used to release the spring lock of my invention. Fig. X is a view of the lifterFig. IX, when in actual use.

In the drawing, similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views, and the sectional viewsare taken looking in the direction of the little arrows at the ends of the section lines,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. 111116 5, 19 5. Seria1No.32,255.

Considering the numbered parts of the drawing, 1 is a bolt provided with a head 2, said bolt being shown in place extending through a casting or similar article 8. The bolt is provided with a screw threaded portion i and with a groove extending longitudinally of said screw threaded portion. In carrying out my invention, I provide a washer 5 adapted to slip over said bolt and provided with an inwardly projecting lug 6 which engages in groove 4. The washer 5 is provided with a series of ratchet recesses 7 annularly disposed as hereinafter described. I also provide a nut 8. screw threaded to engage the screw threads 4 of the bolt, and provided with longitudinal grooves 8' at diagonally opposite corners so as not to decrease the net sectional area longitudinally and to permit a wrench to easily and unobstructedly fit said nut. One arm 19 of the U-shapcd locking spring 16, is disposed in one of the grooves 8. This groove is swaged or pounded over at 9, so as to close the metal of said nut around this portion of the lock arm. thus holding the latter securely. As a further means of holding said arm in said groove, nut 8 is indented against or made to bite into said arm, at 11, by a chisel or some such tool. The transversely disposed portion of said looking arm lies parallel to the top of the nut and is curved so as to pass around and not interfere with the threaded portion of bolt 1 and to permit free and easy use of lifter 15, hereinafter described, giving said lifter themaximum leverage possible by this feature. The other arm 10 is disposed in the diagonally opposite roove, and projects beyond the lower surface of the nut so as to engage in the ratchet recesses 7. The ratchet recesses 7 as shown in Fig. V, are to be in general, a hole 12 passing through washer 5 and a sloping or slanting groove or channel 13 made to intersect said hole 12. The bottom of this groove or channel 12 intersects said hole at a short distance above the base of washer 5. The lifter 14. Fig. IX, is L-shaped, the short arm being flattened out to an edge 15. The flattened end of the lifter is slipped between the nut 5 and locking arm 16, opposite the corner where said locking arm is fastened. and turned to the edgewise position thus disengaging said lock from recess 7, and raising the end of said 7 arm above the base of nut 8, as in Fig. X,

Two types of washers are here shown. The one of Fig. IV is circular while that of Fig. VII is square with two diagonally opposite corners bent as at 18 so as to be driven into the structure secured by the bolt. Likewise a washer is used in Fig. VII, under the head of the bolt to prevent it from turning as shown. I do not limit myself to any special method of holding any of the washers used in connection with my invention, nor do I limit myself to any special shape of washer.

From the description of the parts given above, the operation of this structure should be very readily understood. Washer 5 'is slipped over the bolt with the lug 6 disposed in the groove 4: so as to prevent the washer turning relative to said bolt while permitting free longitudinal movement thereon. NutS is screwed on to said bolt and the longer arm 10 of the U-shaped locking arm drops into the hole 12 of recess 7 due to the spring of said arm, while continued rotation of said nut causes arm 10 to travel up the channel 13 until free of recess 7 while if the nut were reversed, locking arm 10 will be brought against the side of hole 12 preventing the nut being unscrewed. By inserting the lifter 14 as hereinbefore described, arm 10 will be lifted clear of recess 7 and nut 8 may be unscrewed with a wrench or otherwise. vThus it will be seen that while screwing on nut 8, locking arm 16 automatically falls in recess 7 and automatically disengages itself from same and rotation may be continued until it is hard against washer,

5." Fig. VIII shows the lock nut used with a special washer for fastening rail joints.

I am aware that the particular construction which I have hereshown is susceptible of considerable variation without departing from the spirit of my invention, and, therefore, I do notwish to be restricted to the.

same. However, I have vfound that this form is to be preferred and I desire to claim corners, and a U shaped spring locking member carried by said nut in said grooves, one end being fixed and the other end loosely fitting in'the opposite groove and having a downwardly projecting ratchet locking end adapted to engage in the ratchet recesses in said washer, as described.

2. In a nut lock, the combination of a bolt having a screw threaded portion, a washer for said bolt, with means to prevent its rotation, and provided with a plurality of ratchet recesses therein, each comprising a round bottom portion with a grooved sloping portion toward the top at one side, a nut for said bolt, having two longitudinal. V

grooves at diagonally opposite corners, and

a U-shaped spring locking member carried by said nut in said grooves, one end being fixed and the other end loosely fitting in the opposite groove and havinga downwardly projecting ratchetlocking end adapted to' engage in the ratchet recesses in said washer, as described. i V

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two wit'- nesses.

- JOHN M. VANDERBURG.

Witnesses; I

HARRY W. PALNEB, M. J. SHEPARD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

